Awning erection help needed

[wombat1]

Hello is there anybody here (23:33)?

I'm going on my first ever timeout tomorrow, not far, just a learning weekend!

Just looked through the bag of bits in the Bradcot awning box and was surprised to find very little in the way of assembly/erection instructions!

HELP!

Does anyone have a guide to erecting an awning, in electronic format, so that it can be e-mailed?

Sliding the material through the channel and erecting poles is well enough explained, but what about the guy ropes, pegs, ladders?

 

[Allyson]

Hi Timothy

Sorry we have just sold our bradcott classic, you are right the instructions are useless.

I am sure someone will help you on site if you get stuck. If it's your first time out good luck.

Before you put up an awning they recommended that once you have levelled the van have a tea/coffee to relax after the long journey, before you even attempt to put up the awning.

I wish you good luck, we are off this weekend to Burnham on Sea, if we see someone struggling I will send my hubby over.

Let us know how you get on.

Allyson

 

[WilliamTups]

Take some different coloured tape - once we put the awning up for the first time we marked all of the connecting poles with different coloured tape - made life a lot easier next time around (e.g Red tape for the left hand side poles that connect together, blue for the middle poles and so and so on)

I normally (but could be wrong) put the awning over the caravan (and if you can fix the roof poles to the caravan ready to pull to the correct length as and when required, then I start on the middle leg and work outwards - and don't forgot the mallet like I have done twice!!

Even after a year it still causes untold amusement for others watching and a few choice words with me and the misses every time

Can't someone find a way of making putting up an awning more marriage friendly!!!

 

[wombat1]

Hi Timothy

Sorry we have just sold our bradcott classic, you are right the instructions are useless.

I am sure someone will help you on site if you get stuck. If it's your first time out good luck.

Before you put up an awning they recommended that once you have levelled the van have a tea/coffee to relax after the long journey, before you even attempt to put up the awning.

I wish you good luck, we are off this weekend to Burnham on Sea, if we see someone struggling I will send my hubby over.

Let us know how you get on.

Allyson

00:10, I stayed awake in the hope of a reply.

Thanks.

Why aren't you in bed?

We're doomed!

It won't be me in Burham, I'll be 150 miles further north.

Had a look through the archives and found a web site address for an awning specific forum group, seems to be broken at the moment though?

Thanks

Tim

 

[swhite]

Hi Timothy,

Sorry you probably won't read this until after your trip but it may help.

With my previous caravan I had an older Bradcot Classic awning which I bought second hand and hence had no instructions. I was new to caravanning so was at a loss on where to start. The awning frame (steel) also had some slight damage to one of the flexy joints, although it was usable.

I phoned Bradcot Customer Service department (number from web site) and explained my situation. They talked me through step by step on how to put the awning up and how to peg out correctly. I asked for clarification on all of the steps and I was scibbling notes down as the rep. talked me through it. Once I come off the phone, whilst it was fresh in my mind I typed up the procedure on the PC. I've still got it and will gladly forward you a copy if still need any help or you could phone up yourself like I did.

Additionally, they sent me out a replacement part for the damaged frame at no cost - Result, can't fault Bardcot's Customer Service!

Have since changed the caravan for a newer one and this one came with a newer Bradcot Sport. It has the instructions with it but they're not much use, which is a shame.

Would definately agree with marking up the poles with coloured tape, as it makes identification much easier. Also, having a cup of tea, coffee or something stronger is highly recommended. Finally, the awning probably won't be a total success the first time and maybe not even the second, third and so on. Remember, it can be quite stressful as many folk will tell you but what the heck just try to relax and enjoy the rest of it and normally there are plenty of people who will help you if all else fails.

Best of luck,

Simon

 

[wombat1]

Back home now.

Thanks to everyone who replied with advice.

In summary, if my brother hadn't turned up to give some advice, I doubt we would have completed erecting the awning before dark. In fact I was still banging the last few pegs in after 8pm.

The only mishap we encountered was when we came to disassmble the awning. We discovered we had not slotted a zip end fully enough into the zip start slot before zipping up a front panel, the result - couldn't detach the zip.

Whilst trying to disengage the zip, we acidentally pulled the zip apart up to half way round and then teeth apart - with the zip now stuck half way round we had to just pack the awning away complete with a front panel attached.

When we got home we spread the awning over the kitchen table and rubbed SILICONE spray (on a cloth)along the zip teeth, we were then able to pull the zip all the round to the end and separate the panel and roof section.

On another point, we have realised how much water we use, it surprised how quickly used the contents of a 40ltr aqua roll!

Thanks to all

Tim

 

[nick_374224697]

Timothy, when we first started caravanning about 1.5 years ago I seemed to be forever going to and from the tap to re-fill the Aquaroll.Some tips for you are, get a second aquaroll and fill both and stand the spare ready to change over. Take bottled water to drink and when using the shower turn the water off whilst you soap up it saves loads.If you do all that you will spend more time relaxing rather than re-filling the aquaroll all the time. On the subject of awnings, when we got our first full awning I went to the depot a couple of time where we store it to practice putting it up, try this and set aside an afternoon or evening so you have plenty of time - it can help make you very adept at putting it up.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

For awning erection dilute Viagra onto a soft cloth, rub the awning poles with the cloth and hey presto! a self erecting awning :O)

 

[Royston]

For awning erection dilute Viagra onto a soft cloth, rub the awning poles with the cloth and hey presto! a self erecting awning :O)

how do you manage to rub the poles with a erect cloth !!!!